UC Santa Cruz protest ends in tense scene

UC SANTA CRUZ

Former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina, a candidate for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate, speaks at the North State Building Industry Association conference in Sacramento, Calif. on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009. Fiorina, who announced her candidacy Wednesday, is making a bid to unseat Democratic U.S. Sen. Barabara Boxer. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli) less

Former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina, a candidate for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate, speaks at the North State Building Industry Association conference in Sacramento, Calif. on Thursday, ... more

Photo: Rich Pedroncelli, AP

Photo: Rich Pedroncelli, AP

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Former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina, a candidate for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate, speaks at the North State Building Industry Association conference in Sacramento, Calif. on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009. Fiorina, who announced her candidacy Wednesday, is making a bid to unseat Democratic U.S. Sen. Barabara Boxer. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli) less

Former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina, a candidate for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate, speaks at the North State Building Industry Association conference in Sacramento, Calif. on Thursday, ... more

Photo: Rich Pedroncelli, AP

UC Santa Cruz protest ends in tense scene

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Dozens of student protesters who took over a UC Santa Cruz administrative building after a systemwide tuition increase were removed Sunday morning when police officers in riot gear ordered them to exit the building or face arrest.

No arrests were made, and university officials said the operation concluded peacefully. But videos provided by some of the 70 or so protesters show a tense scene, with officers pushing their way through a wall of students chanting "We are peaceful, what about you?" to reach the entrance of Kerr Hall.

Anthropology Professor Mark Anderson suffered minor injuries after he was squeezed off a second-floor railing lining the path to the building, said protesters and media reports. No other injuries were reported.

On Thursday, protesters displaced about 150 workers from Kerr Hall and issued a list of demands to the university, which included freezing campus layoffs, rescinding a 15 percent cut on custodians' work hours and agreeing not to cooperate with immigration authorities investigating UC Santa Cruz students and workers. But negotiations with university officials broke down Saturday night.

"Most of their demands from beginning to end involved spending funds that the university no longer has," UC Santa Cruz spokesman Jim Burns said.

Both students and university officials feared the standoff would escalate into a violent confrontation with the involvement of the police.

"There was a real sense that the situation could have led to violence, whether accidental or intentional. It was a real relief that that wasn't the case," said graduate student Evan Williams, a spokesman for the protesters.

In the end, officers did not have to use force to remove the protesters and only used their batons to push their way through the protesters' supporters. Once authorities made their way to the building's entrance, the occupiers were given 15 minutes to vacate the premises.

Williams said university officials offered the building's occupiers the option to walk away and avoid arrest if they exited through a back door.

Nonetheless, a university statement said officials are working to identify the occupiers, who may be liable for sanctions ranging from campus disciplinary penalties to criminal charges.

Burns said that the protesters caused damages to the premises estimated in the thousands of dollars.

"It's a mess. It's filthy. It's going to a take significant amount of money to restore (the building) to its prior condition," he said.

Students across the UC system mounted protests and occupied buildings in response to the 32 percent tuition increase approved by university regents on Thursday. Students enraged with the decision said the university system is turning its back on underprivileged students in a move that will tear at campus diversity.

UC President Mark Yudof recommended the increase to close a $535 million budget gap that has forced the system to lay off 2,000 workers, impose faculty furloughs and reduce class offerings. The tuition increase, the eighth since 2002, will bring the annual cost for classes over $10,000 for the first time.

On CNN's "State of the Union" Sunday, GOP Senate candidate Carly Fiorina called the tuition bump an outrage when she was asked about the protesters.

"Well, A, I think they should be heard," Fiorina said. "And, B, of course it's an outrage. I mean, how do you say to their students and their parents, 'Surprise, you're going to have a 32 percent increase.' "

Williams said he wasn't aware of any future protests at UC Santa Cruz. Even though the protesters' demands were not met, he said the standoff was a success.

"The support that gathered around this shows that this is part of a wider movement among students, faculty and university workers," he said.

Meanwhile, activists said demonstrations will continue this week at UC Berkeley, where 40 students took over Wheeler Hall Friday for more than 11 hours.

Three demonstrators facing felony burglary charges in connection with Friday's demonstration are scheduled to appear in court at 2 p.m. Monday in Oakland. Before then, students will gather at noon at Sproul Plaza for a brief rally in support of them.

At 6 p.m. Tuesday, a candlelight vigil will be held to discuss police brutality on the steps of Wheeler Hall, said Callie Maidhof, a spokeswoman for organizers.